100+ Low Cost New Year’s Resolutions

I know that many people are ambivalent about setting New Year’s Resolutions and others are really up for new year, new start. I would say I’m somewhere in the middle – I’m never quite ready to say goodbye to the end of the year but do recognise that a New Year is a great way to look at making positive changes for the upcoming year. I do love that feeling of a fresh start so have a list of New Year Resolutions for 2023 (and beyond!)

This post is not about spending a fortune – I’m certainly not suggesting that any readers attempt all of these. These resolutions are simple ideas to try if you are looking at new things to spice up your New Year.

I have tried to look at action plans that should not take much time – Nobody needs a to-do list that is impossible to achieve. They are not even things that have to be done or started in a single year – just some great tips for the coming new year that might make us feel good and create some work-life balance along with trying new goals.

When is best to start New year Resolutions?

Typically, people have started on January 1st but any time during the year can be a perfect time to create new habits and try a new resolution. Perhaps try a new one each week as the whole year progresses and see what suits?

You may have a big goal that you aim to achieve throughout the next year. Don’t get bogged down in trying to do too many other new challenges to distract you from your main aim. Minimalist Family Adventures talks about the importance of making plans for the New Year ahead.

You don’t have to make a drastic change to your life to make a difference. Small changes can make significant differences to everyday life and generally make you feel good.

Health

This list will never include concentrating on a particular diet or losing weight which are what the media would have us believe are the most common new year’s resolution. Fair enough if that is your aim but for me, new year can be a great time to look at eliminating a bad habit or setting monthly goals/ fitness resolutions to make you feel happy about yourself not doing without. I’m never going to be about signing yourself up for an expensive gym membership that you will never go to but if that is your thing, go for it!

• Cut down on caffeine – Can you replace a couple of your coffees per day with a glass of juice or green tea?
• Aim for 10 portions of fruit and vegetable per day – If you struggle to get to 10, how about definitely 5?
• Drink at least 2 litres of water per day (Make it easier by popping a little cordial in it if you need to. We also have those Air Up bottles which suprisingly work when getting the girls to drink more).
• 30 minutes exercise at least 3 x per week (I’ll admit, I struggle with this one but even an outdoor walk will help which we can achieve). Alternatively, We Made a Wish has 4 handy ways to work out at your desk.
• Go to sleep earlier – The difference being in bed before midnight makes is incredible to how you feel the next day.
• No using devices for at least 20 minutes before going to sleep.
• Get up 15 minutes earlier for some calm time or reading time.
• No alcohol for at least 3 days per week.
• Take a proper lunch break, take a break from your desk – Go outside!
• Take the stairs instead of getting the lift – I even try to run up our stairs most days (but am obviously not advocating that due to Health & Safety!)
• Floss every day.
• Make that dental appointment.
• Check for lumps and bumps on the 1st of every month.
• Grow your nails.
• Wear suncream every day.
• Limit takeaways to once per month.

Wellbeing

This is about being that little bit kinder to yourself – little steps to treat yourself better. Marvellous Mrs P talks about How to Enjoy January.

• Take your makeup off thoroughly before bedtime – Totally admitting I don’t always do that.
• Cleanse, moisturise and tone at least once per day.
• Get outside for at least 20-30 minutes per day – I can’t talk enough about how I feel getting outside does wonders for my own mental health. I talk about how to be an outdoor family in winter over on this blog post. The ladybird Adventures also has Fun Outdoor actives for Children on her post.
• Get your ears pierced – I’ve been meaning to get mine done again for yonks!
• Get a haircut – Is it time for a change?
• Bin that old makeup – The lip liner you never wear, that clumpy mascara – Bung them in the bin!
• Limit the news – Max of 20 minutes per day or one episode.
• Limit your time on social media – Can you even lose one platform?
• Talk to someone new – at the bus stop, the person sat next to you at the doctors/cinema. I love the idea of meeting new people.
• Read a little every day.

Friendships

• Meet up with a friend at least once per fortnight – Doesn’t have to be for anything in particular, just a walk together or a cup of tea can be great.
• Contact that friend/s that you haven’t seen for ages.

Personal Finances

• Do you have any subscriptions i.e. magazines that you can cancel?
• Can you do a no or low spend month? You might like this post on 9 saving challenges for the year ahead.
• Can you take your lunch to work instead of buying there?
• Can you do without takeaway coffees for a month?
• Sign up for cashback sites like Quidco or Top Cashback.
• Are any groups that you belong to, affiliated to fundraising? Ie PTFA groups often sign up to Easy Fundraising.
• Joanne Dewberry has tips on How to save money when working from home

Hobbies

• Join a group (or start a group!) – Ideas can include a choir or a W.I. It is 11 years since I co-founded a Women’s Institute and it still brings back great memories.
• Can I spare any time to volunteer? Perhaps at a Food Pantry or Search and Rescue?
• Watch one new film per month – Doesn’t have to be at the cinema and cost money.
• Learn new skills – I started cake decorating one new year as I yearned for Personal Development. That small change was life changing as within two years I had set up my own business.
• Learn to crochet – Crochet some Christmas Tree decorations for next year.
• Take French or Spanish classes at your local secondary school – often there is the chance to learn different languages at a really low cost.
• You may like to take up colouring – Raisie Bay talks about the reasons why colouring is good for us.

Getting Organised

• Send thank you letters.
• Print out those important photos and pop them in a frame or a photo calendar. Nobody can appreciate them in your phone!
• Create a happy playlist
• Make your bed every day – Teenage readers, I’m talking to you!
• Send a card to someone – bonus points for just because you are thinking about them, doesn’t have to be just during difficult times.
• Make a pact to be on time everywhere you go (I try this EVERY year!)
• Can you get your clothes ready the night before?
• What have you been putting off – DO it now!

Technology

• Get rid of your email inbox.
• Check emails twice per day at most.
• Delete unwanted photos on your computer – create space.
• Delete backups of old phones on your computer – You won’t believe how much space this frees up!
• Clean your keyboard.
• Recharge your mouse/replace batteries in your mouse.
• Get rid of any unwanted apps on your phone or electronic devices.

Transport

• Does your driving licence need renewing?
• Check the oil and screenwash in your car.
• Check your MOT date.
• Do you have an emergency box in your boot – Blankets, Hi-Vis jacket, bottle of water.
• Do you have a mobile charger in your car?

House Proud

• Wash your curtains.
• Deep clean your carpets.
• Check your tins and spices for Best Before Dates.
• Can you make any donations to foodbanks/local charity shops?
• Clear out your wardrobe.
• Clean your oven.
• Clear out your bathroom cabinet for old medicines.
• Use up those toiletries that you have been saving.
• Do all your mobile chargers work? Are any frayed or broken?
• Can you donate any books to charity or local library/school?
• Can you get the ironing pile down to zero?
• Switch to eco-friendly cleaning products.
• Burn those scented candles that you have been saving.
• Wash your makeup brushes.
• Create a cleaning schedule and stick to it.
• Create declutter schedules for each room. You can even get paid for recycling!
• Are you up to date with vet appointments – vaccinations and flea/worming treatments?

Books

(This is one of my favourite sections to think about for the New Year but obviously feel free to skip if you are not a reader)

• Choose a number of books that you would like to read this year – One of my favourite things I like to do at the beginning of every year.
• Remove any books from your shelves that you have not read and won’t do.
• Choose a genre per month that you would like to read from – I know a lot of people like to read translated fiction and non-fiction. You could join in with Non-fiction November.
• Recommend a book per month to friends and family.
• Read a book beginning with each letter of the alphabet.
• Can you volunteer to read with someone? i.e. At a local school, prison, women’s refuge – Also one of the best ways of meeting new people.

Clothes

• Wear one different item every week.
• Introduce a ‘no buy’ rule for one month (or maybe more).
• Can you take any good quality unwanted items, including bags and coats, to the charity shop?
• Can you introduce a clothes library with a good friend or even sister?

Food

• Cook a recipe from a different cookbook each week.
• Go on a course. I.e. Pasta making/bread making/cake decorating.
• Bake for gifts.
• Homemade birthday cards using up craft stock that you already have in the house.
• No meat Mondays? We are trying for at least 2-3 meat free days per week this year.
• Batch cook and freeze ahead of weekday meals.
• Create easy to reach for snack packs ie. fruit and nuts.
• Make sure to eat breakfast every day – the trick is to always have things in that you will fancy eating in a morning.
• Will a meal plan help you do your food shopping on a budget?

Gifts

• Can you make handmade gifts for a month/the whole year?
• Can you cut down on who you give gifts to next year? Discuss with friends and make a pact to spend time together instead?
• Set a budget of £10 for certain people.
• No plastic gifts.
• Homemade wrapping paper.
• Try to always be 3 days early when giving a gift (This is one of the hardest for me!)
• Handmade cards only?
• Can you recycle any gifts that may be more suitable for other people?

Something New

• Book a night away if you can, to somewhere completely different.
• Make plans of places you would like to visit- Don’t have to plan them all for this year but great to have a list. Motherhood Diaries reviewed the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London if you are looking for some luxury.
• Join the National Trust/RHS
• Book the whole day off for your birthday – Make plans to do something for you – even if its sitting reading a book.
• Can you sign up for any new courses or responsibilities at work?
• Ask your boss for feedback on your performance/career prospects/promotion opportunities.
• Arrange an appointment to give blood/donate plasma or platelets.
• Join a stem-cell donor registry.

I’d love to hear from you if you are trying any of these or started new year goals in previous years and are still doing them. You may have even found your new best friend through trying out something new. If you can think of any other smaller goals that you think could be useful to add to this list, then feel free to suggest them. The more the merrier!

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